Feb 15, 2025
Syracuse, NY- North Carolina (15-11, 8-6 ACC) won its first road game in over a month with an 88-82 win against Syracuse (11-15, 5-10 ACC) on Saturday night at the JMA Wireless Dome in a game that Tar Heels never trailed in. Syracuse has now lost six of their last eight games.
Two storied programs desperately looking for a win. That was the atmosphere on a snowy night in upstate New York.
The Tar Heels started out 1-8 from the field in the first four minutes. After two games without a field goal, Ian Jackson entered after the under-15 media timeout and immediately splashed a three. A couple of possessions later, Jackson struck again with a scoop-and-score dunk. He was 2 for 11 from three-point range in the last four games, exploded with 16 first-half points and finished with 23 overall. It was his highest scoring output since dropping a season-high 27 at Notre Dame on January 4. He shot 8 for 15 from the floor and tied his season high with five three-pointers.
Junior forward Jalen Washington hit a three from the top of the arc, just his second of the year. UNC led, 15-10, ten minutes in.
After the first half, North Carolina led, 42-34.
The first four minutes of the second half were surgical as the Tar Heels scored 11 points led by Jae’Lyn Withers who hit two 3-pointers, pushing the lead to 53-45.
Eddie Lampkin Jr., of Syracuse continued to make the Tar Heel frontcourt pay as he dunked down his 14th point five minutes into the second half. He finished with 26 points. JJ Starling added 22 points, six rebounds and four assists while hitting all 10 of his free throw attempts.
The Tar Heel offense then disappeared as Syracuse made it a one-possession game, 60-57, with 11 minutes remaining. Just as UNC fell apart, Jackson put the pieces back together with his fifth three of the game.
Withers responded in turn, scoring eight straight points and it was his first game in double figures since the Maui Invitational against Auburn. Withers played his best game in three seasons as a Tar Heel. He scored a season-high 19 points, hitting 7 of 10 shots
and grabbing six rebounds He scored 14 points in the second half and hit 3 of 4 three-point tries.
UNC had tied their season high with 13 made threes.
RJ Davis had 16 points, five rebounds and six assists for the Tar Heels who made it interesting at the end.
UNC had kept the Orange at bay, leading 78-70 at the under-five timeout. The Orange turned up the heat and came back to make it 82-78 with 1:16 left. Cadeau missed the front end of a one-and-one and Syracuse knocked down two free throws to come within two.
Cadeau wouldn’t let that miss define him, as he responded with a clutch layup to seal the victory for the road team.
UNC hosts NC State on Wednesday while Syracuse travels to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
